The trend for tattoos and body piercings has become increasingly popular in Europe and Western countries (Kluger, 2013). It has been estimated that 20% of the United Kingdom population has a tattoo and 10% of the adult population has a piercing of some kind, with a self-reported complication rate of 28% (Bone et al, 2008; White, 2012). It is therefore quite likely that general practice nurses (GPNs) will encounter wound-related problems, such as infection, associated with tattoos and piercings during their day-to-day clinical practice. This article explores some of the complications that can arise and provides an overview of how to manage them effectively.